UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman has sent an eerie message to Jorge Masvidal ahead of their huge clash on Saturday.

Masvidal stepped in at six days notice to take the fight after Brazilian Gilbert Burns tested positive for coronavirus.

And while many believe the American poses a bigger threat to Usman than Burns did, ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ could not be more confident of securing the victory.

Speaking to ESPN, he said: "All I'm going to say is I'm going to bless him with these hands in any way possible.

"Whether he's on his back, I'll bless him with these fists. Whether he's standing up, I'll bless him with these fists. It's up to him how he's able to handle that.

"Whether he lets me bless him in the first round where there's no more suffering, or he can take it like Covington and I'll bless him for 24 minutes until I get him out of there."

Usman’s professional MMA record stands at 16 victories and one defeat, with his solitary loss coming way back in May 2013.

Meanwhile, Masvidal has been beaten 13 times in 48 MMA fights, but is coming off the back of three successive wins.

He announced himself on the world stage with a stunning five second knockout of Ben Askren in July 2019.

And the 35-year-old followed that up with an impressive victory over Nate Diaz last time out.

UFC 251 is taking place at Fight Island in Abu Dhabi and will be available to watch on BT Sport 1 over Saturday night and Sunday morning.